RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's volleyball team will close out the home portion of its 2023 schedule with conference matches against Austin Peay and Lipscomb this weekend.
 
The Colonels will host APSU on Friday at 6 p.m. for Mental Health Awareness Day.  EKU will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday with a 4 p.m. match against Lipscomb.  Both matches will air live on ESPN+.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU is 16-6 overall and tied for third in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 6-4 mark.  The Colonels beat Stetson 3-1 last weekend and nearly upset first-place Florida Gulf Coast before falling 3-2.
 
-  EKU is fifth in the nation with 14.22 kills per set and fourth with 13.26 assists per set.
 
-  Sarah Mitchell is seventh in the league with 3.07 kills per set and eighth with 3.41 points per set.
 
-  Chloe Mason is third in the conference with 0.46 aces and 10th with 6.37 assists per set.
 
-  In two matches last week, Carson Ledford averaged 3.00 kills per set while hitting .511.  She also contributed 0.78 blocks per set.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
-  Austin Peay is 10-13 overall and 3-7 in ASUN matches.  The Governors snapped a four-match losing streak with a 3-0 home win over Queens on Friday, and then suffered a 3-0 loss to Kennesaw State on Saturday.  
 
-  Mikayla Powell has contributed 3.79 kills per set with a .261 attack percentage.  Maggie Keenan leads the team with 63 blocks.
 
-  Lipscomb stands at 14-6 this season and 9-1 in league matches.  The Bisons' first ASUN loss came at Florida Gulf Coast on Oct. 14.  They rebounded with wins over Kennesaw State (3-1) and Queens (3-0) at home this past weekend.  
 
-  Jada DiVita leads Lipscomb with 2.83 kills per set.  Two other players average 2.70 kills or more per set for a balanced attack.  Delaney Smith leads the conference with 0.60 aces per set.  The Bisons allow the fewest kills per set (10.96) in the ASUN.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU is 44-27 against Austin Peay.  The first meeting between the long-time conference rivals was in 1980.  The Colonels picked up a 3-0 win over the Governors in Clarksville earlier this season.  AG Vandagriff totaled a match-best 12 kills without an error.  Powell led APSU with 11 kills. 
 
-  The Colonels are 10-3 all-time against Lipscomb.  The first meeting came in 2000.  The Bisons earned a 3-2 comeback win in Nashville on Oct. 6.  Vandagriff had 16 kills and three blocks.  Meg Mersman led all players with 21 kills for Lipscomb.